Penguins join ElectriCritters

A few more creatures will join the critters.

Times Record News file photos
ABOVE:Robert Comello (right) and grandson Niko Escamilla look at an ElectriCritters display of a fish jumping out of a pond at River Bend Nature Center. ElectriCritters opens today for its five-weekend run.

RIGHT: Tina Marie Metcalf and her children, Ayden DeLeon and Jasalin DeLeon, walk along a trail during ElectriCritters in 2011. The display, which opens today, features more than 150 lighted nature forms, as well as s'mores, storytelling, music and visits with Santa.

Times Record News file photo
Santa and Mrs. Claus visit with guests at a past ElectriCritters. The holiday display at River Bend Nature Center opens today.

ElectriCritters will see the arrival of lighted penguins to River Bend Nature Center, perhaps ready to primp up and plop down near the nature center's igloo.

So alongside the familiar creatures that have brightened the nature trail for the past several years — the hooting owl, howling coyotes, blustery Old Man Winter, herd of deer and fleeing pheasant — visitors this winter to ElectriCritters also will notice a plucky penguin ice fishing, a fellow penguin pointing the way to the North Pole and a couple of sledding penguins.

About 150 illuminated nature forms sponsored by businesses, individuals and organizations will brighten the season at River Bend as part of its annual ElectriCritters holiday display, unique in that the light display is nature-themed in honor of the nonprofit facility's mission in nature education.

The event returns for a five-weekend stay beginning Friday.

The penguins are the latest addition to ElectriCritters after the facility added an igloo in 2011 built by students from Midwestern State University's McCoy School of Engineering.

The lighted nature forms, by the way, aren't the only features that will beckon from ElectriCritters.

Visitors who have attended the event over the years go to partake of some of the delights of the season, such as hot cocoa and apple cider. Families also love to warm up by the campfires and roast a marshmallow or two to make their own s'mores, or drop by the refreshment area to grab a bag of popcorn.

ElectriCritters is also the perfect opportunity to visit the Ruby N. Priddy Butterfly and Nature Conservatory.

It's in the conservatory, a towering glass pyramid that overlooks the winding nature trail below, where visitors might see butterflies gathered under the trees or may view a few chrysalises. They might also spy critters like River Bend's resident prairie dogs or quails, or see aquatic life swimming in the aquarium.

The conservatory also is where North Texas residents can see organisms and animal replicas found in the Rolling Plains Region, along with more than 100 plant species.

And in the learning center, lizards, snakes, turtles, spiders and the like are on display.

Beyond all the plants and creatures, ElectriCritters will feature performances by musical groups during its five-week run, from the Rider High School Guitar Ensemble to the Barwise Junior High School Choir and the Wichita Falls High School Girls Choir. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the nature center to visit with children, storytellers will read a few nature-themed or holiday tales, and visitors may drop into the gift shop for a little holiday shopping.

The ElectriCritters committee spends a year planning this event annually, which attracts thousands of visitors over its five weeks and requires the help of hundreds of volunteers.

It is the most well-attended fundraiser of the year for the nature center. Proceeds go to helping River Bend continue educating the community about nature.

ElectriCritters volunteer coordinator Jill Avis said one thing the group needs during its run is more volunteers, including volunteers who may want to help the steering committee next year.

ElectriCritters will be open from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 22.